The defeat of both bills – one from Democrats, one from Republicans – ends the current push to force a yearly balanced budget from Congress. Blunt, who voted for the Republican-backed bill, says the fact that neither party could pass their amendment speaks to the heart of the Senate’s disfunction.

“Unfortunately it was just like everything else that’s been happening on the Senate floor most days now: two votes and nothing happens," Blunt said. "I think it’s time we start to work toward real solutions.”

A debt-ceiling deal last summer required the Senate to stage the votes in exchange for $2 trillion in future spending cuts.

Most Senate Democrats argue a balanced budget amendment would hamstring Congress in dealing with disasters and economic downturns. Democrat Claire McCaskill of Missouri voted for her party’s proposal today.